Book-rack for church-pews



(No Model.)

M. G. FRUTOHEY.

BOOK RACK FOR CHURCH PEWS, &c. No. 316,535. Patented Apr. 28, 18185.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFrrcE.

MATTHEW G. FRUTCHEY, OF SORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOOK-RACK FOR CHURCH- -PEWS, 8&0.

$PECIFIOA'I'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,535, dated April 28, 1885.

Application filed July 30, 1884. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern Beitknown that I, MATTHEW G. FRUTOHEY, of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders for Pews, Benches, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and lettersof reference marked thereon.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved holder for books adapted to be applied to the backsof pews or benches in churches; or it may be attached to a wall or any other object where desirable; and it consists of a certain improved construction, which I will now proceed to describe.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a book-rack constructed in accordance with my invention, applied to the back of a churchpew, and Fig. 2 a modifica tion of the same.

A represents the back of a pew or bench of the ordinary or any suitable construction, and to this are secured in any suitable manner two wooden strips or blocks, B B, extending the entire length of the rack and substantially parallel with the back of the pew.

0 represents a plate of metal or wood, but preferably the former, and provided with the longitudinal central slot, D, and it may also be provided with the open-work, as shown, for lightness, and also for observing the title of the books placed within the rack. This plate is secured to the strips B B by means of screws, as shown, and together with the pewback forms a receptacle for the books.

The books are placed in the open end of the rack and slid toward the center, either fromone or both ends, by inserting the fingers through the slot D, as will be readily understood.

In book-racks for benches and pews as ordinarily constructed the ends are closed and the top is left open and the books dropped into the troughs thus formed, oftentimes during devotional exercises, ifapplied toa churchpew, making a very disagreeable noise and disturbing the worshippers; but my invention, as will be seen, overcomes this disadvantage.

It is obvious that instead of making the strips 13 B of wood the whole arrangement can be made of metal and cast in one piece, as shown in Fig. 2, being provided with the perforated lugs a a, for attachment to the pewback by means of screws.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the pew-back, of the open-ended book-rack consisting of the top and bottom portions and the side piece, 0, having the longitudinal slot or opening therein, as described? 2. As a new article of manufacture, the herein-described book-rack, constructed of metal, and provided with the closed sides and open ends, one of said sides having a longitudinal slot, D, as shown, substantially as described.

M. G. FRUTOHEY.

YVitnesses:

E. F. OHAMBERLIN, DUNCAN WRIGHT. 

